Biologically active lipoprotein and its use

Abstract

A lipoprotein possessing pulmonary surfactant activity comprising an alveolar polypeptide or protein and, covalently bound thereto, one or two fatty acid residue(s); a pharmaceutical composition comprising such lipoprotein and a phospholipid type of material; and a method of facilitating respiration in mammals including man, comprising administering an effective amount of such a lipoprotein or pharmaceutical composition to the respiratory tract of a patient subject to respiratory disorder so as to reduce surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the patient's alveoli.

We claim: 
     
       1. A purified lipoprotein possessing pulmonary surfactant activity comprising an alveolar polypeptide or protein including the amino acid sequence: Phe-Gly-Ile-Pro-Cys-Cys-Pro-Val-His-Leu-Lys-Arg and, covalently bound thereto, one or two fatty acid residue(s).     
     
     
       2. The lipoprotein according to claim 1 wherein said fatty acid residue is derived from a fatty acid having from 14-22 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       3. The lipoprotein according to claim 2 wherein said acid is palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic or linolenic acid. 
     
     
       4. The lipoprotein according to claim 3 wherein said acid is saturated. 
     
     
       5. The lipoprotein according to claim 4 wherein said acid is palmitic or stearic acid. 
     
     
       6. The lipoprotein according to claim 4 wherein said fatty acid is palmitic acid. 
     
     
       7. The lipoprotein according to claim 1 comprising two fatty acid residues.